Step tool



March 19, 1968 w. s. HAIVALA STEP TOOL Filed Oct. 21, 1966 IN VEN TOR.

mm 4% M ME, 6

United States Patent 3,373,458 STEP TOOL William S. Haivala, Haivala Concrete Tools, 1130., 1017 Walker, R0. Box 1055, Wichita, Kans. 67213 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 588,441 9 Claims. (Cl. -2357) This invention relates to a step tool adapted to be used in final finishing of concrete aggregate steps.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a practical and efficient device of the kind indicated, which speeds up and renders more accurate the finishing of concrete aggregate steps.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and easily used device of the character indicated above, having a horizontal blade leg adapted to finish the top of a step, and a vertical blade leg adapted to finish the riser of the step, the vertical leg being adapted to be accurately adjusted and set, at 90 degrees, relative to the horizontal leg, and at various lesser angles thereto, in accordance with the particular kick-back of the step involved.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view of a-tool of the present invention, showing the adjusting dog in disengaged position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing the dog in engaged position, in phantom lines.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated device comprises a V-shaped blade 10, formed of relatively thin resilient flat material, preferably stainless steel, comprising a flat rectangular horizontal leg 12, and an upstanding flat rectangular vertical leg 14, connected to the horizontal leg, at its forward end, by an arcuate portion or bend 16, extending the full width of the legs. As shown in FIGURE 3, in full lines, the vertical leg 14 is disposed at an upward and rearward angle, relative to the horizontal leg 12, such as 78 degrees, the vertical leg being adjustable forwardly as far as 90 degrees relative to the horizontal leg, through flexing of the arcuate portion 16.

Parallel spaced angle iron braces 18 have lateral horizontal flanges 20, fixed upon the horizontal leg 12, and upstanding vertical flanges 22, the latter being bevelled, at their forward ends, as indicated at 24, to provide clearance for the vertical leg 14, the braces 18 being equally spaced from the side edges of the leg 12.

Parallel spaced angle iron braces 26 are fixed to the rear surface of the vertical leg 14, their vertical flanges 28 being aligned with the vertical flanges 22, of the braces 18. Fixed to the rear side of the vertical leg 14, between the braces 26, is a plate 30 extending between the braces 26, and formed with similar horizontal corrugations 32, the grooves 34 between the corrugations serving as seats for a dog, and being equally spaced from each other, at distances representing different desired angulations of the vertical leg relative to the horizontal leg.

A U-shaped yoke 36 extends between the braces 18, of the horizontal leg 12, has a cross member 38 fixed upon the upper surface of this leg, and upstanding parallel arms 40, which are fixed to the inner surfaces of the vertical flanges of the braces 18, and extend therea-bove. The arms 40 preferably have rounded upper ends 42.

The arms 40 are centrally traversed, at their upper ends, by a pivot bolt 44 which extends through an eccentric longitudinal bore 46 in a cylindrical handle 48, the arrangement being such that on being rotated toward the vertical leg 14, the handle approaches the leg 14, and moves away from the leg 12, on being rotated away from the leg 12, in a cam action.

A dog 50 comprises an inverted U-shaped flat bar material form, having arms 52 centrally traversed at their lower or rear ends 54, by a bolt 56 which extends through a longitudinal bore 58, in the handle 48. The bore 58 is eccentric and is located at the opposite side of the centerline of the handle, from the bore 46.

The dog 50 has a cross member 60, which is angled downwardly and forwardly, relative to the arms 52, so as to present a straight upper edge 62, for engagement in the corrugation grooves 34, in the engaged position of the dog, as indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3, the cross member 60 then being in an upward and rearward angle, relative to the horizontal. Each groove 34 represents a different predetermined angle of adjustment of the vertical blade leg 14, relative to the horizontal blade leg 12.

In order to set the vertical leg 14, at the desired angle, relative to the horizontal leg 12, the handle 48 is rotated toward the vertical leg, so that the dog is rotated toward the same leg, engages the edge 62 in the selected groove 34, and pushes the vertical leg forwardly from its fully rearwardly retracted position, to the correct angle. The bolt 56 is then tightened to hold the setting by preventing retrograde rotation of the handle or the dog. The legs of the blade 10 are then applied to the work.

To reset the tool, the bolt 56 is loosened and the handle 48 rotated away from the vertical leg 14, so that the dog 50 becomes disengaged from the corrugated plate 30, and the vertical leg 14 recoils to its initial position, whereat the new adjustment is made, as before.

As shown in FIGURE 2, related side edges 64 and 66, of the horizontal and vertical legs 12 and 14, respectively, are angled toward the outer edges of the legs, so as to permit the tool to be tipped to get in rounded corners, where there is a side wall to contend with, as well as steps.

What is claimed is:

1. A step tool comprising a flat V-shaped a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, meeting the legs, said vertical leg having a rear surface, said rear surface being formed with parallel vertically spaced horizontal grooves, and a dog eccentrically pivoted upon the horizontal leg and adapted to be forcibly engaged in selected grooves.

2. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein said vertical leg is normally rearwardly angled toward the horizontal leg, the pressure of the dog against the vertical leg serving to flex the vertical leg forwardly relative to the horizontal leg to a predetermined angle.

3. A step tool according to claim .1, wherein said legs are flat and substantially rectangular.

4. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein the side edges of the legs 'at one side of the tool are disposed at right angles to the end edges of the legs, and the side edges of the legs at the other side of the tool being angled laterally inwardly toward the end edges of the legs.

5. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein an upstanding U-shaped yoke is fixed upon the horizontal leg, said yoke having parallel spaced arms, a handle extending between said arms and eccentrically pivoted thereto, said dog being eccentrically pivoted on the handle to swing toward and away from the vertical leg as the handle is rotated toward the vertical leg, and means for holding the dog against rotation relative to the handle.

6. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein a plate is fixed to the rear surface of the vertical leg, said plate having parallel spaced horizontal corrugations formed therein and defining said grooves between adjacent corrugations.

7. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein an up blade having a resilient band constanding U-shaped yoke is fixed upon the horizontal leg, said yoke having parallel spaced arms, a handle extending betwen said arms and eccentrically pivoted thereto, said dog being eccentrically pivoted on the handle to swing toward and 'away from the vertical leg as the handle is rotated toward the vertical leg, and means for holding the dog against rotation relative to the handle, said dog being an inverted U-shaped form having parallel spaced pendant arms engaged with the ends of the handle, said dog having a cross member angled relative to the lengths of the pendant arms and presenting an upper edge for engagement in grooves.

8. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein an upstanding U-shaped yoke is fixed upon the horizontal leg, said yoke having parallel spaced arms, a handle extending betwen said arms and eccentric'ally pivoted thereto, said dog being eccentrically pivoted on the handle to swing toward and away from the vertical leg as the handle is rotated toward the vertical leg, and means for holding the dog against rotation relative to the handle, said dog being an inverted U-shaped form having parallel spaced pendant arms engaged with the ends of the handle, said dog having a cross member angled relative to the lengths of the pendant arms and presenting an upper edge for engagement in grooves, said holding means being a bolt extending lengthwise and eccentrically in the handle and through the pendant legs and serving to pivot the dog on the handle.

9. A step tool according to claim 1, wherein an upstanding U-shaped yoke is fixed upon the horizontal leg, said yoke having parallel spaced arms, a handle extending between said arms and eccentrically pivoted thereto, said dog being eccentrically pivoted on the handle to swing toward and away from the vertical leg as the handle is rotated toward the vertical leg, and means for holding the dog against rotation relative to the handle, said legs having parallel spaced angle iron braces on their facing sides, said braces having aligned vertical flanges, the said yoke being positioned between the vertical flanges of the horizontal leg and secured to the horizontal leg and the vertical flanges thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 398,781 2/1889 Hovey 15-2357 515,890 3/1894 Walrath 15-2357 1,370,060 3/1921 Smith 15-2357 1,383,688 7/1921 Word l5-235.7 2,178,899 11/1939 Shaffer 15-2357 2,595,742 5/1952 Wood l5235.7 2,701,465 2/1955 Johnson et a1. 15-2357 3,241,174 3/1966 Callahan 15-235.6 X

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STEP TOOL COMPRISING A FLAT V-SHAPED BLADE HAVING A HORIZONTAL LEG AND A VERTICAL LEG, A RESILIENT BAND CONNECTING THE LEGS, SAID VERTICAL LEG HAVING A REAR SURFACE SAID REAR SURFACE BEING FORMED WITH PARALLEL VERTICALLY SPACED HORIZONTAL GROOVES, AND A DOG ECCENTRICALLY PIVOTED UPON THE HORIZONTAL LEG AND ADAPTED TO BE FORCIBLY ENGAGED IN SELECTED GROOVES. 